Elevate Everyday

Category: Health & Healing

  • The Ginger Tea My Grandma Made Every Time I Was Sick

    The Ginger Tea My Grandma Made Every Time I Was Sick

    It was a cold winter evening, long after the sun had set. My five-year-old body shivered with a cold.

    I still remember seeing my grandma standing in the kitchen, gently stirring a small pot of her famous cold-fighting brew. Soon, the warmth from the stovetop filled the kitchen, and the air carried the sweet, spicy aroma of simmering ginger.

    The pot contained a special brew my grandma would make every time my sister or I were sick. The recipe couldn’t have been simpler: sliced ginger simmered in Coca-Cola for five to ten minutes.

    The first sip sent warmth through my little body—from the spicy ginger and the steaming Coca-Cola.

    …

    My grandfather was a doctor, and my grandmother was a nurse. Even though they were trained in Western medicine, they always had a deep appreciation for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and natural remedies.

    Ginger was a staple in our household, not only for flavoring dishes but also for soothing upset stomachs and easing cold symptoms.

    In Traditional Chinese Medicine, ginger is known for its warming (yang-activating) properties. It has traditionally been used to dispel internal cold, promote circulation, and strengthen digestive function.

    How Ginger Builds Yang Energy

    • Warms the Middle Burner: Ginger targets the digestive core (Spleen and Stomach Yang), converting food into usable vital energy (Qi).
    • Dispels Internal Cold: Its pungent, thermal nature acts as an internal heater to break up cold stagnation and alleviate fatigue.
    • Drives Circulation: It pushes blood and Qi outward to the extremities, effectively warming cold hands and feet.

    In fact, there’s even a well-known wellness practice to “Eat ginger in the summer and radish in the winter” (夏天吃姜，冬天吃萝卜). While interpretations vary, ginger is traditionally valued for supporting yang energy and digestive function, whereas radish is often used to help clear excess heat and support digestion during the colder months.

    You might be wondering: why Coke? Truthfully, I think the recipe endured because my sister and I happily ‘drank our medicine’, while my grandparents knew we were getting plenty of warming ginger.

    …

    Recently, I caught a minor cold, and my mom reminded me to drink some ginger tea. As I sipped the hot ginger tea (with no Coke added this time), it again warmed my body and even more than that, it warmed my heart. In that simple cup, I felt deeply the love I felt from my grandparents then and now.

    Grandma’s Ginger Tea (Inspired by Her Original Coke Recipe)

    Ingredients:

    • 25 g fresh ginger, thinly sliced
    • 12 oz Coca-Cola
    • Optional healthier version:
    • 25 g fresh ginger
    • 12 oz water
    • 1 tsp honey or brown sugar (optional)

    Direction:

    • Add the sliced ginger and Coca-Cola to a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil and simmer for about 5 minutes. Allow it to cool slightly before serving.
    • Note: simple hack if you have an electric kettle and are omitting coco-cola for water: boil water in kettle and pour boiling water directly over slice ginger in a heat tolerant container

    Wellness isn’t always found in the newest supplement or the latest health trend. Sometimes it’s found in traditions that have quietly nourished families for generations. I hope this little story encourages you to rediscover the healing rituals that connect you to your own roots. If you try this recipe—or have a treasured family remedy to share—I’d love to hear your story in the comments. Some of the best medicine isn’t just what’s in the cup—it’s the love and memories we associate with it.

  • What I Learned About Vitamin D and Cholesterol That Blew My Mind

    What I Learned About Vitamin D and Cholesterol That Blew My Mind

    “Your vitamin D is extremely low,” Dr. K said, peering at my bloodwork. “I recommend a high-dose prescription. It’s taken once a week.”

    He paused before continuing, “Another thing that really concerns me is your cholesterol level. It looks hereditary, but I’d still recommend considering a statin—a cholesterol-lowering drug.”

    I sat there taking it all in… and then a memory surfaced.

    “I remember reading something about a relationship between vitamin D and cholesterol,” I said. “Is that a thing?”

    Dr. K looked thoughtful. “Hmm… that’s not something I’ve come across in the literature I’ve read. I can look into it and get back to you.”

    You see, I’m not against medication. But if there’s a natural approach—like spending more time in the sun, adjusting my diet, or exercise more—I’ll explore that first.

    And I did remember seeing something about vitamin D and cholesterol being linked. Curious, I typed into Google:
    “Relationship between vitamin D and cholesterol.”

    As someone who geeks out on health and wellness, I dove in—and what I discovered blew my mind.

    🧬 Cholesterol is a Precursor to Vitamin D

    Wait… what?

    Turns out, we need cholesterol in our skin cells to make vitamin D from sunlight. Specifically, a molecule called 7-dehydrocholesterol (a form of cholesterol) converts into vitamin D3 when exposed to UVB rays.

    This blew me away:

    The chemical formula for cholesterol is C27H46O.
    The chemical formula for vitamin D3 is C27H44O.
    The only difference? Two hydrogen atoms.
    Those two hydrogen atoms are released when our skin is exposed to ultraviolet light.

    Source: Harvard Medical School

    So yes—the link is real. And closer than I ever imagined.

    🌟 Cholesterol Isn’t the Villain We’ve Been Told It Is

    Cholesterol has been demonized in our culture. We seek out “low-cholesterol” or cholesterol lowering foods. We’re taught cholesterol clogs arteries and causes heart attacks. But that’s just one piece of a larger story.

    Cholesterol plays a critical role in the body. Blood cholesterol not only helps create vitamin D, it also converts into hormones, supports brain function, helps form blood cells, and protects our nerves.

    And did you know your cholesterol level can be too low? In fact, low cholesterol is associated with mortality from stroke, heart disease, and cancer. Source: National Institute of Health

    So no—it’s not all bad. Like many things in life, it’s about balance, not elimination. 

    ☀️ Sunlight: Our Primary Source of Vitamin D

    Vitamin D is crucial for healthy bones, muscles, immunity—and may help prevent diseases like diabetes, cancer, and autoimmune disorders. Source: MDPI

    But here’s the catch:
    Diet alone usually isn’t enough to meet our vitamin D needs. The primary source? Sunlight.

    Only one specific type of ultraviolet ray—UVB—can trigger vitamin D synthesis in the body. It photolyzes 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin, starting the transformation into usable vitamin D3.

    But here’s what blew my mind even more:
    You can be outside and still not get any UVB.

    So even if you think you’re getting sun, your body might not be making any vitamin D.

    ⚖️ Finding the Right Balance

    UVB rays are a double-edged sword. Too little exposure can lead to deficiency. Too much can increase the risk of skin cancer. Same source—radically different outcomes depending on dosage.

    How much is “just right”? That depends on your skin tone, location, and time of year. (This NIH paper helped, but I’m still digging into this.)

    Bottom line: we need moderate, intentional sun exposure to support our vitamin D levels—and, by extension, our overall health.

    📉 Could More Vitamin D Lower Cholesterol?

    I also found studies exploring whether raising vitamin D levels might help lower LDL (the so-called “bad” cholesterol). The evidence is still mixed, but some research shows a possible correlation between higher vitamin D and lower LDL levels.
    Source: Nature

    More research is needed, but it’s a promising area.

    📬 A Follow-Up from Dr. K

    Two days later, Dr. K messaged me.

    “I did some digging and found that there is a relationship between vitamin D and cholesterol production. UVB is the light that converts 7-dehydrocholestrol to Vitamin D3 in the body…”

    💡 So What?

    I feel like I just earned a mini-PhD in vitamin D and cholesterol—ha.

    But seriously, what struck me most wasn’t the science itself. It was how little I actually knew about basic processes in my own body—despite being “well-educated” by traditional standards.

    I had unknowingly formed beliefs based on headlines, ads, and half-truths. That cholesterol is all bad. That the sun rays cause skin cancer. None of it was completely true—or completely false.

    Here’s what I learned instead:

    • Cholesterol is a precursor to vitamin D
    • Their chemical formulas are nearly identical
    • Cholesterol plays essential roles in the body
    • Sunlight, not diet, is our main source of vitamin D
    • We may not be producing vitamin D even when “in the sun”
    • The answer lies in balance, not avoidance

    🔍 The Bigger Lesson

    The truth is often more nuanced than we’re led to believe.

    When it comes to our health—and our lives—we owe it to ourselves to ask better questions, challenge surface-level assumptions, and take radical responsibility for our own well-being.

    Inviting you to reflect on:
    What’s one “truth” you’ve accepted without questioning—about your health, body, or life—that might be worth a second look?